Hummer’s End Imminent?

Fell in love with the HX concept that debuted at this year’s Auto Show? Don’t get too attached. Word has it, the gas crisis and changes in demand may soon mark the end for GM’s Hummer brand. According to Autoblog, at today’s annual meeting in Delaware, GM CEO Rick Wagoner will be publicly announcing the latest restructuring round for the manufacturer. GM will close down four North American Assembly plants by 2010. The plants in Janesville, Wisconsin, Oshawa Ontario, Moraine, Ohio, and Toluca, Mexico are already running reduced production schedules and will cease operations entirely as products are discontinued or shifted to other plants. The Janesville plant builds medium trucks and SUVs while Moraine builds the old body on frame Trailblazer, GMC Envoy and Saab 9-7x SUVs. The other plants build full-size pickup trucks. The closures affect 10,000 employees at those plants.Wagoner will also be announcing that GM has begun a strategic review of the HUMMER brand, which will consider all options, including “ramping up the portfolio,” shutting the brand down or “selling it in whole or in part.” At this point, GM has not had any discussions with other manufacturers about the possibility of a sale, which won’t happen until the review is completed.It’s hard to picture the bully brand dying such a quick death – but have you filled up the tank of one lately?Source: Autoblog